I'm starting to get used to these bus journeys, in fact I get a better night's sleep on a bus than the dorms. Buses from what I have experienced so far are very reliable and comfortable although you pay for the comfort as the prices are relatively high.

As I've been staying in dorms throughout my time here so far, it was nice to check-in to a pousada for one night (which is like a guesthouse but certainly cannot be classed as a hotel). The pousada was called "Gloria", which was indeed the name of the lady who run the place, again speaking no English. The pousada was very basic and we were the only people staying there as the further north you get the more off-season it feels like. We had a twin room with an on-suite bathroom with cold water showers...as the weather here was scorching - cold showers are actually a blessing. We managed to check-in to the room very early and extend it to the evening of the second day, so it gave us two full days in Maceio.

I really love Maceio, maybe because it has a small state capital vibe to it and it is nice to get out of the big cities of Rio and Salvador.

Met up with a Chilean called Claudio, who travelled from Salvador with us and he acted as my translator for the first day, which was handy!

Nearby to the Pousada, just a short 2 minute walk was Praia de Pajucara beach. Praia de Pajucara is protected by a huge reef out from the coast, so the waves crash down on the reef leaving the coastal waters calm and flat. Here you can hire jangadas (small sail boats) and sail to a natural pool created by the reefs that surround the beach, 2km out. We sailed out from the beach in shallow calm waters, then as normal the water deepened then we arrived at this small natural pool where the water was crystal clear and green in colour whilst shallow enough to stand in, reefs surrounded the pool and beyond the reefs was blue coloured deep water. Here you could order food/drinks and they would serve it up on polystyrene floating trays. This really is the life, the sun was beating down and the ice-cold Skol (local beer) was flowing. I could have stayed here all day but unfortunately the tides didn't allow that and after a couple of hours we had to sail back to shore - a great experience of what seemed like a secluded floating paradise.

I'm starting to pick up words in Portuguese now which is very handy when ordering food, it's no longer a total lottery what I'm eating but more of a slightly educated guess now - however if in doubt order the frango (chicken)!

In the evening managed to find a cool bar then upstairs they had a nightclub, so after a few Caipirinha's and Skol beer we headed up there. They had a live band playing Samba...boy can the Brazilians dance...the dance floor was packed with girls and guys snaking across the dance floor and shaking their hips, I'm not even sure Thommo's dancing or Bodgers snake hips could stand out (in a good way) here!! Then out of nowhere the band stopped and the DJ started playing some awesome house music...that's our q, busting shapes only we know how to...Brazilians' looking on wishing the Samba band would come back on...we didn't care, let's put our hands in the air and dance (badly) to some known house music. It didn't last long, the locals got their wish and the Samba was back on....drunk and on a mission to hunt down some local talent, I tried befriending some locals - unfortunately no one spoke a word of English and my conversational Portuguese is no existent, so after a Smirnoff Ice strawpedo (bad idea) - we left the club!

Woke up with a stinking hangover, I blame the Caipirinha's - they are strong, but so damn tasty! A good night to finish off Maceio and a bit of beach tanning time then it's time to head off on a night bus to Ponta Negra in Natal.